The Annotations tool enables you to leave notes, commentary, or detailed explanations to communicate insights and document your analytics process.

Annotations help users document their process and add commentary or perspective in their analysis through storytelling. By creating these threaded visualizations and narratives, you can build a portfolio of analytics projects that include rich context, making it very easy for wide audiences of varying disciplines to comprehend the analytics process and data insights.

Types of Annotations

Using Annotations

To create an Annotation:

1. Click the Annotation icon ( ) in the top toolbar or right-click on the plot and select Add Annotation to create a Dataset or Mapping Annotation. Right-click on a point and select Add Annotation to create a Point Annotation.
2. Add a main label or title to your Annotation in the top Header text field within the Annotation window. This will display whether your Annotation is open or collapsed.
3. Add any additional context or information in the Body Text box below. Hide or show this section by clicking the Collapse icon ( ) on the top right of the Annotation. Resize the Annotation by clicking and dragging a side or corner.

You can further customize your Annotation by clicking the View Additional Options icon (  ) on the top right of the window:

• Edit Text: Reopen the text boxes to make changes. You can also double-click the Annotation to edit.
• Edit Colors: Change the colors of the Header background or font.
• Annotation Type: Change the Annotation type to either Dataset or Mapping.
• Link Annotation: Add a link to a different mapping to connect them and create a data story.

  Note: In order to add a link to an Annotation, the linked mapping must be either the most recently created mapping for any dataset or a Favorited mapping of any dataset (via the History Panel). Only mappings that meet these criteria will be present in the drop-down for adding Annotation links.

• Badge Display: Choose to show a badge next to the Annotation, helpful for displaying step numbers. Clicking the badge will also toggle between hiding or showing the Annotation.
• Annotation Settings: Open the global settings for Annotations:
  • Window Transparency: Adjust the transparency level of all Annotation windows. This primarily affects the Body Text section of the Annotation.
  • Line Depth: When using a Point Annotation, changes the thickness of the line that connects the Annotation to the data point.
  • Fixed Position: When using a Point Annotation, checking this box keeps the Annotation in one place on the screen when the mapping is rotated or adjusted. Unchecking this box allows the Annotation to move with the mapping.
  • Annotation Colors: When using a Point Annotation, adjust the color of the line connecting the Annotation to the point.
• Delete Annotation: Remove the Annotation.

Tip: By adding Badges and linking multiple annotations, you can click through your data story points, appropriately adjusting the plot and focal points as you progress.

Additional Annotation Actions

Clicking the Annotation icon ( ) in the top toolbar brings up additional Annotation actions:

• Add Annotation: Create a Mapping or Dataset Annotation.
• Hide/Show Annotations: Hide all created Annotations. If Annotations are currently hidden, this option will display as Show Annotations, and clicking this will show all Annotations.
• Expand All Annotations: Expand all Annotations to show Body Text.
• Collapse All Annotations: Collapse all Annotations to hide Body Text.
• Delete All Annotations: Delete all created Annotations.